Elem. kids.....rolling backpacks????

[DawnM]

My kids want LL Bean backpacks. They prefer the rolling one but the difference is an additional $30 each! I would save $60 by buying just a reg. backpack for them.

They will be in contained classrooms and will get a ride to and from school so very little actual carrying will be involved.

Do they NEED rolling backpacks? Or can I just get the reg. ones?

My kids will be starting school for the first time ever this fall. We have been homeschooling up to this point.

Thanks!,

Dawn

 

[Plantlady]

Some schools don't allow rolling backpacks, just so you know.
My kids can't have them.

 

[poohs_hunny]

Rolling backpacks are made for kids who carry heavy loads. It doesn't sound like your kids will need them. Also, they can't roll the backpacks down the stairs anyway, and they make a racket going down the hallway. I'd skip them.

 

[klfrech]

PLEASE NO ROLLING BACKPACKS! I am a first grade teacher. My students don't even have books to bring back and forth. All they have to carry are a few folders and some papers. The rolling backpacks cause nothing but accidents. Elementary kids want to run...they don't know the meaning of "walk". They are always tripping over each other as it is!

Just my 2 cents...what they want and what they need are two very different things!

 

[gillenkl]

heads up, my elementary school kids aren't allowed to have rolling backpacks because they won't fit in their lockers.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Rolling backpacks are not allowed at our schools either(elem, ms or hs). They are a trip hazard and as was said they don't go up and down stairs. They also slow the loading of the buses or cars because they must have the handles put down and then carry the pack, where as if they are wearing it on their backs as they are designed, they just get right into the bus/car.

Janitors were also not fond of them, either because they brought in more dirt or because they messed up the "shine" on the floors by leaving tracks.

 

[englishteacha]

I agree...no rolling backpacks! I teach middle school and our kids are required to keep their backpacks in their locker during the day, anyway. The ones with the wheels won't fit in the lockers so I ended up with a pile of bags in my classroom.

LL Bean is having a big sale right now. Some of their backpacks are under $20! Click on the "Sale" link on the left side of their main site.

 

[MiniGirl]

Our school also doesn't allow the rolling backpacks.

 

[Michigan]

Not allowed in our schools either

 

[heartsy77]

I just order an new backpack from LL Bean and they are a few on clearance that are rolling one a girl pattern and more boyish pattern ( however the blue one is the one my daughter ordered. I also googled LL bean code and found a free shipping code on dealcathcher.com All together with MONO came to 35$ because of free shipping.

 

[DawnM]

Yeah, my boys think the LL Bean packs on sale look too "girlie". Oh well.

Our school does allow rolling backpacks as I have seen many when I have gone over there for various things, but I think it is best not to get them. It sounds like there are many reasons for that.

I have perfectly good backpacks from Lands' End, but they are the Jr. size and won't fit notebooks. Sigh.

Thanks all.

Dawn

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi! Teacher here

My school does not have a policy against them, but backpacks must "Be able to fit in your child's locker". Well, that pretty much means...NO ROLLING BACKPACKS.

Actually, in all my years at the school, I've only seen one student who had one that could fit. She's in my class this year & the backpack can hardly be called a backpack. It is sooo small that it barely holds her folder. Maybe it's supposed to be a doll carrier or something.

 

[Brenda in CA]

I'm also a first grade teacher. I don't know what grade OP's kids are. I hate the rolling backpacks. My kids don't have much to put in them and then when they are running......I mean, trying to walk down the hall, the rolling backpacks flip all over behind them. They are noisy and are a tripping hazard when in the hallways. I make my students pick them up and carry them through the hallways. I require my students to put their backpacks on their chairs sideways (grab both straps together and slide both straps down over the back of the chair) so that their backpacks don't fall off their chair everytime they move. I've ran into my share of wheels from those rolling backpacks and let me tell you it really hurts.

I won't buy them for my own children either.

 

[ceecee]

Rolling ones aren't allowed at our school either. Although some kids do have them.

 

[java]

Well around here- yep they have the rolling ones. They are required to carry 4 count em 4 binders to and from school everyday- in addition to any other required texts for homework!! So they allow the rollers. And there are some good ones on sale right now at LLbean I think or was it lands end. Anyway my dd has one from LL bean and she has already said she is taking it with her again next year as it still looks brand new!

 

[Feralpeg]

The school where I worked allowed them last year, but they won't be allowed next year. It got totally out of hand. Instead of a true backpack, some of the kids started using rolling luggage. Some of their so called backpacks were bigger than my largest piece of luggage. They were a total menace.

 

[minnie mouse]

Both of my girls have the rolling back packs from L.L. Bean and love them. They just finished 3rd and 4th grade and believe me most days they had a heavy load. Yes the rolling back backs are heavier because of the wheels and the metal for the handles. They go to a small private school so they only have coats lockers and not actual lockers so they have plenty of room.

I know some school don't allow them but I'm glad our school does.

But either way you go L.L. Bean back packs hold up wonderful.

 

[lajones81]

Our school allows rolling backpacks for the elementary kids (K-5), but does not allow them for the middle school (6-8). Personally, I find them to be very bulky and bothersome, as those backpacks do not find in our school lockers.

 

[abbeshops]

My daughter is entering 7th grade this fall & has been using a rolling backpack for 2 years now. She got one in 4th grade because her backpack was so heavy she complained that her back & shoulders hurt. I never even thought that they might not be allowed in school. I just checked the district website after reading these posts & did not see anything regarding whether or not they're allowed. I know that in Junior & Senior High School she will only be carrying more books so I guess my question for everyone who lives in a district where they aren't allowed is do your kids complain about carrying heavy loads? I would think there is a health issue of injuring backs when they're carrying heavy textbooks around on a regular basis.
On a side note, the LL Bean backpacks, wheeled or non wheeled are wonderful-they replace them or repair for the lifetime so you definitely get your money's worth.

 

[Brise Nannie]

Some schools don't allow rolling backpacks, just so you know.
My kids can't have them.

Same here...no rolling packs allowed.